5 Common Android Messages Problems & Fixes

In this guide we’ll go over some common Android Messages problems and offer tips to fix them. Android Messages is Google’s default text message app for millions of smartphones. Whether you have the Google Pixel 2, a Moto G6, or something else, this is the app your phone has. Sending texts is something we do daily, and when it doesn’t work it’s extremely frustrating.

If you’re dealing with problems in Android Messages you do have a few options. We can clean out the app, give your phone a fresh start, or replace your text message app completely. Here’s what you need to know.

Google recently added a lot of neat new options and features to Android Messages. The biggest one being the ability to send and receive texts from your computer. And while these new features are nice, we’re seeing a huge increase in complaints that Android Messages simply doesn’t work, crashes, runs slow, or deletes messages. Try these to fix your problems.

How to Fix Android Messages Running Slow

The biggest complaint we see about Google’s Android Messages app is that it runs slow, laggy, and just struggles to keep up with users. There are a few potential reasons for this, and a few ways to fix it.

Our first suggestion is always to reboot your phone. Even if it’s an app acting funny. Simply long-press the power button on whatever phone you own, then tap reboot or restart. This should fix Android Messages running slow.

Next, how many text messages are on your phone? Some general maintenance and clean-up can go a long way. If you’ve sent and received messages for a year or so and never deleted old messages, you probably have a TON. The average person under the age of 34 sends or receives over 100 texts a day. Combine those for a year and you have over 36,000 messages on your phone, if not more.

So yes, deleting old messages and group threads can and will make Android Messages run better. I delete anything over 30 days old. If this doesn’t fix your problem, try clearing the cache.

Head to Settings > Apps & Notifications > All Apps > and tap on Messages. Now, simply tap Storage and hit the Clear Cache button. This won’t erase any of your messages, so don’t worry. It just clears residual leftover files and gives the app a fresh start.

In fact, no matter what problems you’re dealing with, try clearing the cache first. This is the first and most important step before trying more drastic measures.

How to Fix Android Messages Crashing

For me, Android Messages just keeps crashing all the time. Even after I deleted old messages and cleared the cache. We see a lot of complaints that the app crashes over and over again. If you’re in the middle of a response and it crashes, the entire message gets deleted. This is extremely frustrating.

If Android Messages keeps crashing over and over for you, try forcing the app to close. This basically bypasses the bug that’s making it crash, and manually shuts it down. Then when you open the app again yourself it’ll start fresh. Here’s how to “force close” Android Messages.

Go to Settings – Pull down the notification bar and tap the gear-shaped settings button

Select Apps & notifications, then All Apps

Find and tap on Android Messages from the list

Choose Force Stop (middle right side)

When you select Force Stop it will completely shut down and disable the Android Messages app on your phone. You’ll have to physically tap the icon again to open it, or you’ll miss incoming messages and notifications. This closes the app until you re-open it.

Force close gives apps a fresh start and typically fixes any minor problems users are dealing with. It’s not always the answer though, but we recommend trying this if clearing the cache didn’t work.

How to Disable Smart Replies

This isn’t really a problem, but it’s something we see people ask about all the time. Google recently added “smart reply” pop-ups to your conversations. Similar to Gmail owners can easily and quickly respond to someone in a message by tapping words above the keyboard. It’s a nice feature, but it’s in the way a lot and usually doesn’t way what you want to say yourself.

Open Android Messages and tap the 3-dots menu button near the top right. Head to Settings > Smart Reply > and turn the switch OFF. Now you’ll have a regular texting experience without all of those reply popups.

How to Fix Missing Picture Messages

Are you having problems sending or receiving (MMS) picture messages in Android Messages? If so, you probably turned it off by accident. Open the app and tap the 3-dots at the top. Now, tap on Advanced and make sure “auto-download MMS” is turned on and blue. It’s that easy.

Other Android Messages Problems

We found tons of small Android Messages problems or complaints scattered throughout Twitter, Reddit, or the Google Play Store. However, almost any problem you’re dealing with will likely get fixed by trying the three steps outlined above.

First, delete old text and picture messages you no longer need or want. This is an important step, even though it’s time-consuming. You can transfer them all to your computer or use SMS Backup to save them if you’re worried about losing something important. After that try rebooting your phone, clearing the cache, or forcing the app to close.

However, if you’re still having problems we have one more solution. This one is a last resort, as there’s a small chance you’ll lose text messages, group conversations, or picture messages while taking this route. You shouldn’t, but it’s a possibility. We’re going to clear the app data for Android Messages.

Go to Settings – Pull down the notification bar and tap the gear-shaped settings button

Select Apps & notifications, then All Apps

Find and tap on Android Messages from the list

Tap on Storage, then select Clear Storage

Select Yes on the Delete App Data popup

This will delete any and all settings, files, app data, and customization. Basically erasing everything and giving Android Messages a fresh start. Your phone should and will save all of your text messages.

When you open your text app again following this step it may take a while to load. That’s because Android Messages is importing all of your text messages. So while you shouldn’t lose anything, don’t be surprised if you do. That’s why we recommend backing them up first.

Download a New Text App

In closing, we have one more suggestion for those running into problems. Try a different text message app. Google’s Android Messages isn’t your only option. Your Pixel 2 XL isn’t stuck using Android Messages. Download one of the dozens of text app alternatives from the Google Play Store. We recommend Textra, and almost everyone else on Reddit or Google’s help forum does too.

Go to the Google Play Store and find a new text app. Our favorite is Textra, or you can try something like ChompSMS.

Download a new text message application for your phone and open it. Most will have instructions to “set as default” so you won’t receive duplicate notifications. This sets your phone to only allow this specific app to send and receive messages. Textra is extremely customizable, fast, stable, and works great. You won’t run into all the problems we experience with Google’s Android Messages app. Give it a try today.

If you’re dealing with any other problems let us know in the comment section below. We’ll do our best to help.

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